My stint with Steven Spies’ ex-Chevy Cobalt pro stock car was initiated due to a falling out with the Whathehell Racing Team. At the time, the driving duties of the Pontiac GTO were shared between Jeff Dobbins and yours truly. But to make a long and painful story short, the family dropped me as a driver and continued with Dobbins, who had absolutely nothing to do with this decision.

The reason for losing the GTO’s ride was a slow speed, freak accident during qualifying for a race, in which I lost control after a heavy tire shake. A situation from which I normally would have safely recovered, had me side-swiping the concrete retaining wall. This was one of those situations people attribute to “Murphy’s Law”.

Since at this juncture I was still learning to drive these types of race cars, and being an individual that doesn’t quit, I decided to continue on my own. I found the Chevy Cobalt in the stock of RJ Race Cars and the Sonny Leonard 762 c.i. hemi engine at Elite’s. Jeff Dobbins was kind enough to help and put everything together at his shop in Wilmington, N.C. and even did the shake down at a nearby by 1/8-mile track before shipping the car to Curacao in December 2011.

For my generation, the golden era of Pro Stock in Aruba and Curacao were the early 2000’s. Some 7-8 pro stock cars brought thousands to their feet at the drag race tracks of Palo Marga (Aruba) and Ronde Klip (Curacao). Bullets with names like: Midnight Run, Big Papito, Sun Express, Valspar Pontiac, and from Curacao, King Kong 4, Whathehell and Baloul.

Fast forward to a decade later. From this group only two were still actively racing in Curacao, King Kong 4 (Frankie Brandao) and Whathehell (de Kort). But in 2011, the family had shipped the GTO back to the states and put it up for sale. That same year I started my racing operation but also knew from the very beginning that my car would be the last pro stock bought to race in Curacao, as times where changing. I also knew that I didn’t have the financial resources nor the vast experience needed to win against Frankie Brandao, who had Pat Musi driving and providing the power. Nevertheless, my goal was to finish learning how to drive a mountain motor pro stock car and represent for one last time those lovers of normally aspirated elephant engines.

Over the course of four years, “Piss’d Off Pete” brought smiles to thousands of race fans, both at the track and at events around the island. I learned everything there is to know about owning a semi-professional racing operation and how to drive and compete against the very best.

Unfortunately, as earlier mentioned, the 2011-2014 period was one beset by problems in the drag racing world. To make matters worse, the track owner decided not organize races during the 2013 season and only started again in 2014 thanks to a great deal of encouragement.

Having said that, Piss’d Off Pete only participated in a handful of races. And although I never won a race, “Piss’d Off Pete” did cause quite a stir. So much so that the legendary Pat Musi felt he had to deep stage King Kong IV while I was still creeping towards the first bulb, in order to give him the bast chance of winning. Though he apologized later, it was confirmation that we were a force to reckon with.

In 2014, the Chevy Cobalt was shipped back to Jeff Dobbins who sold the car.

If you would like to know more about Piss’d Off Pete, there is a blog dedicated to it.